@TIANB-BIA - Av. Charles Woeste 184 - 1090 Bruxelles - Belg TEL **.32.2/420 34 36 fax /420 05 49 E-Mail: anb- bia@village.uunet.be _____________________________________________________________ WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 27-05-1999 PART #1/ * Africa. Action against the Media - Cameroon: On 25 May, Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) said it was concerned about threats made against Aime Mathurin Moussy, editor-in-chief of La Plume du Jour, which has been suspended since September 1997. Sierra Leone: RSF has protested the arrest of two journalists in Freetown -- Jonathan Leigh, editor of the Independent Observer (arrested on 17 May), and Joseph Mboka, editor of The Democrat, arrested on 18 May. Sudan: RSF says it has sent a letter to President al-Bashir, expressing alarm at the arrest of 3 journalists in Sudan. Tunisia: The Committee to Protect Journalists says it is outraged over the 20 May assault on journalist Taoufik Ben Brik, a freelance reporter. On 24 May, he was arrested by the police then freed having signed a statement that he had been assaulted by persons "unknown", and not by the police. Zambia: On 26 May, Human Rights Watch documented the government's crackdown on the independent media and the Opposition. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 May 1999) * Afrique. Sommet du COMESA - Du 23 au 25 mai, les chefs d'Etat des 21 pays membres du Marche commun d'Afrique orientale et australe (COMESA) se rencontreront a Nairobi pour un sommet destine a renforcer l'integration economique. Le COMESA a fixe au 30 octobre 2000 la date de la creation d'une zone de libre echange dans la region. Le sommet traitera de la question de la liberalisation du commerce, de la cooperation en matiere de transports, de communication et d'agriculture, de la mise en place d'une zone commune d'investissement, et des problemes monetaires et financiers. Les questions de la paix et de la securite dans la region seront egalement evoques. Les pays du COMESA comptent 380 millions d'habitants. (Agence Azania, Burundi, 21 mai 1999) * Africa. COMESA Summit - 19 May: How to keep trade going between member states, is the issue leaders have to address when Kenya hosts in Nairobi, the summit of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) states, from 20-27 May. Kenya's Daily Nation reports that COMESA's secretary-general, Erastus Mwencha, says that South Africa is treating its African business partners unfairly, by protecting its market from regional goods as it supported subsidised export, which gave its goods an advantage over others in the region. 24 May: The leaders acknowledge that the dream of economic integration is unrealistic unless a solution can be found to the conflicts afflicting the region. Almost half of COMESA's 21 members are either at war with each other or suffering internal conflicts. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 May 1999) * East Africa. Army worms - Legions of African army worms are chomping their way across East Africa, threatening agricultural production. An insect control expert, Charles Muinamia of the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa says: "If not checked, the worms will have serious implications for food production". The olive-green worms, which feed primarily on the leaves of young maize, rice and wheat, get their name from the way they charge across wide expanses of land. "They move in a line spreading for nearly one kilometre, literally feeding on all grass family plant leaves, doing a better job than a lawn mower." The larvae or eating stage of the owlet or miller moth lasts two to three weeks. The moths lay about 100 eggs during a five-to-ten-day life span. First spotted in Tanzania about two months ago, the worms have shorn more than 100,000 hectares of prime farming land in Kenya's Rift Valley, Central and Coast Provinces. (AP, 19 May 1999) * East Africa. Former USA sergeant indicted in embassy bombings - A former US Army sergeant was indicted on 19 May for alleged involvement in a conspiracy that included the August bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. A grand jury indicted Egyptian immigrant, Ali Mohamed, 46, for "conspiring to kill American nationals outside of the United States". Mohamed has been held in a Manhatten jail since last September. He is the 13th defendant named in the embassy bombings, joining Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, the alleged terrorist plot mastermind, and 11 others previously indicted for conspiracy. (CNN, 19 May 1999) * Afrique de l'Ouest. Reunion de la CEDEAO - Les 16 ministres des Affaires etrangeres de la Communaute economique des Etats d'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO ) se sont reunis les 24 et 25 mai a Lome pour discuter de questions relatives a l'insecurite au niveau regional. Concernant le Niger, l'assemblee n'a pas accede a une requete presentee par le Benin, le Mali et la Sierra Leone, visant a refuser de reconnaitre la nouvelle administration militaire du commandant Wanke. Le communique final a indique qu'il fallait mettre sur pied une commission d'enquete independante pour eclaircir les circonstances de la mort du president Mainassara. Quant a la Guinee-Bissau, les ministres recommandent le retrait des casques bleus de l'Ecomog de ce pays, bien que le ministre bissau- guineen avait demande leur maintien. (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 25 mai 1999) * Afrique/France. ELF accusee - Apres deux jours de seances publiques tenues a l'Assemblee nationale francaise les 19 et 20 mai, le "Tribunal permanent des Peuples", institue dans la continuation de la logique adoptee par le Tribunal Russell, a rendu une "sentence" tres lourde sur les consequences des activites de la societe petroliere francaise Elf sur les peuples africains. Selon son "jugement", l'Etat francais et Elf se sont rendus responsables de la violation du droit a l'autodetermination des peuples, mais aussi des droits de l'homme, par le moyen d'intimidations ou meme d'agression physique. Le tribunal accuse Elf d'avoir contribue pour une grande part a la destabilisation generale du continent africain -- du Congo-Kinshasa au Benin, et notamment au Congo-Brazzaville, ou Elf a finance toutes les factions qui ont ravage la capitale durant l'ete 1997 -- et cela en collaboration etroite avec les dirigeants francais et africains. Le tribunal demande a l'Assemblee nationale de constituer une commission d'enquete. (D'apres La Libre Belgique, 22 mai 1999) * Algerie. Inauguration d'usines a gaz - Le 23 mai, deux usines de traitement de gaz, realisees en partenariat entre la Sonatrach et les societes americaine Anadarko, francaise Total et espagnole Repsol, ont ete inaugurees dans le Sahara. Deja en production, la premiere usine a une capacite de 2.723.000 tonnes par an d'huile brute du gisement de petrole de Hassi Berkine, situe au sud-est de Hassi Messaoud a 900 km au sud d'Alger. La seconde est situee a Fin Touye Tabenkort (550 km au sud-est de Hassi Messaoud) a proximite d'un important gisement de gaz sec, non exploite jusque-la. (AP, 24 mai 1999) * Algerie. Nouvelles violences - Les islamistes semblent avoir repris leur strategie d'attaques de hameaux isoles. Dans la nuit du 21 au 22 mai, dix personnes ont ete assassinees pres de Medea (120 km au sud d'Alger), ou une autre tuerie avait fait 7 morts le 19 mai. Dans la meme nuit, deux personnes ont ete tuees a un faux barrage pres de Tissemlit. Les 22 et 23 mai, cinq personnes ont ete assassinees a Bek-Aknoun, sur les hauteurs d'Alger, et dans la plaine de la Mitidja. Les violences qui se multiplient actuellement, coincident avec des informations - ni confirmees, ni dementies officiellement - faisant etat de discussions entre le nouveau chef de l'Etat, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, et les islamistes du FIS pour aboutir a une solution negociee de la crise qui secoue le pays depuis 1992. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25 mai 1999) * Angola. L'Afrique du Sud s'oppose aux soutiens a l'Unita - Le gouvernement de Pretoria a assure les autorites angolaises qu'il prendra des mesures contre l'aide et le commerce clandestins dont beneficient les rebelles de l'Unita en provenance de l'Afrique du Sud. Un porte-parole du gouvernement a declare, le 19 mai, qu'un engagement dans ce sens a ete pris par le ministre des Affaires etrangeres, suite aux accusations lancees par son homologue angolais, selon lequel l'Unita beneficie toujours de l'appui que lui a accorde son allie sud-africain au temps de l'apartheid. Un expert de l'Institut d'etudes de securite d'Afrique du Sud, Richard Cornwall, a declare qu'il ne croit pas que des armes parviennent a l'Unita par l'Afrique du Sud, mais selon lui, quelque 150 experts militaires sud-africains servent actuellement a titre individuel dans les forces de l'Unita. (IRIN, Afrique australe, 20 mai 1999) * Angola. $575 billion loan - The Angolan government says it has secured a loan of more than five hundred million dollars from a Swiss bank. The negotiations for the loan, from the Union Bank of Switzerland, took a year and included a provision that the Angolan state oil company mortgage some of its future production. The BBC correspondent in Angola says the country is facing one of its worst ever financial crises, just as the army needs to buy new hardware if it is to stand a chance against the resurgent UNITA rebels. But our correspondent adds some aid agencies are asking how the government can be spending money for arms, when thousands of people are starving. (BBC News, 20 May 1999) * Angola. Nouveau champ petrolier offshore - La compagnie petroliere nationale angolaise Sonangol et une filiale de BP Amoco ont annonce la decouverte d'une nouvelle nappe de petrole sous l'Atlantique a 185 km au nord-ouest de la capitale Luanda, ont rapporte les organes d'information le 24 mai. Le champ Platina-1 est capable de produire 6.500 barils par jour et constituera le premier site d'exploitation de BP Amoco au large d'Angola, second producteur de petrole d'Afrique subsaharienne apres le Nigeria. (IRIN, Afrique australe 24 mai 1999) * Angola. Rebel advances - 21 May: UNITA rebels say they now hold 70% of Angolan territory and have struck a heavy blow against government forces since fighting resumed five months ago. Also, a Catholic priest is reported to have been murdered by gunmen at a Catholic mission, 100 kms from the southern city of Huambo. 26 May: UNITA claims victory in several recent skirmishes, but Angola's defence minister says the army is still fully in control. Fighting has spread to all corners since the government launched an offensive against the rebels, from northeast diamond-mining regions to oil centres in the northwest and throughout Bengo province which surrounds Luanda. Also, the UN Security Council expresses outrage at attacks on civilians and aid workers by UNITA. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 May 1999) * Burkina Faso. President acts on journalist's killing - 21 May: Ouagadougou is largely calm after the release of opposition politician Hermann Yameogo. 22 May: President Compaore has ordered a reorganisation of his personal bodyguard in response to protests over the killing of journalist Norbert Zongo, last December. He's also ordered the judge in charge of the case to drop all other work in order to concentrate on the investigation. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 22 May 1999) * Burkina Faso. Toujours l'affaire Zongo - Pour apaiser la population, le president Compaore, dans un discours a la nation prononce le 22 mai, a annonce que le gouvernement prendrait toutes les mesures necessaires pour que les assassins du journaliste Norbert Zongo soient traduits en justice. Il a declare que le magistrat instructeur recevrait tous les moyens necessaires et serait decharge de toute autre activite pour se consacrer exclusivement au dossier Zongo. Insatisfait, M. Halidou Ouedraogo, qui preside un collectif contre l'impunite des hommes politiques, a declare: "Pour nous, les moyens necessaires ne sont pas les bureaux climatises du juge... Il faut des moyens moraux assurant l'independance de la justice, son impartialite et son accessibilite". Le president Compaore a cependant affirme qu'il avait mis sur pied un conseil de sages, choisis pour leur integrite, pour revoir tous "les problemes en suspens" et recommander des mesures acceptables pour tous les partis politiques. Les etudiants des universites et ecoles superieures ont repris les cours, apres 10 jours de fermeture en raison des troubles. D'autre part, les six membres de la garde presidentielle soupconnes d'avoir assassine le journaliste clament leur innocence et se declarent victimes d'un complot. (IRIN, Abidjan, 24 mai 1999) * Burundi. Infiltrations et pillages - Dans la nuit du 19 mai, sur la colline de Gatwe, province de Makamba, les rebelles ont une fois de plus pille la population emportant betail et autres biens domestiques. Le lendemain, ce sont les usines de cafe qui ont ete la cible des rebelles en commune de Muhuta, province de Bujumbura rural. Ces memes jours, les services de l'ordre ont effectue des raffles dans les rues de la capitale, surtout parmi les petits vendeurs qui sillonnent les quartiers de la ville; durant les periodes de grande insecurite, les rebelles s'infiltraient dans les villes en se confondant avec les vendeurs ambulants. Le 16 mai, plusieurs collines de Bujumbura rural ont vu des troncs de bananiers coupes preventivement afin de nettoyer les poches pouvant servir d'abris aux rebelles. (Agence Azania, Burundi, 20 mai 1999) * Burundi. Negociations - Les delegations burundaises aux pourparlers de paix d'Arusha se sont reunies depuis le 10 mai. Plusieurs participants ont indique, le 20 mai, que les delegues se sont regroupes selon les affinites ethniques. Ils forment maintenant trois groupes: le "groupe de Moshi" (regroupant les partis hutu de l'opposition et qui s'etaient retrouves a Moshi debut mai pour harmoniser leurs points de vue), le "groupe des huit" (comportant huit petits partis tutsi) et le "groupe du partenariat" (reunissant le gouvernement, l'assemblee nationale et le parti presidentiel Uprona). Selon le chef de la delegation du parti Uprona, Libere Bararunyeretse, cela comporte le risque de voir tourner les negociations en confrontation ethnique. "Lorsque les gens d'une meme ethnie se regroupent, c'est le plus extremiste qui prend le leadership du groupe", a-t-il remarque. Cependant, pour le ministre burundais du processus de paix, M. Niyonsaba, "le plus interessant n'est pas tellement la formation des groupes, mais le fait de parvenir a des compromis, des consensus qui sont acceptes par l'ensemble des negociateurs". Le 23 mai, cloturant deux semaines de travaux des quatre commissions, le mediateur Julius Nyerere s'est dit satisfait de l'avancement des pourparlers et a indique que les resultats atteints etaient encourageants. (D'apres l'agence Hirondelle, Arusha, 20-23 mai 1999) * Comoros. Government consults with parties - Representatives of the Comorian government and political parties held consultation in Moroni on 22 May to discuss ways of implementing the Antananarivo Agreement, which is supposed to be the new framework guiding relations between the islands in the archipelago. The government's position on the accord, presented by the Commissioner of State (minister) for the Interior, Bianrifi Tarmidi, was hailed by most political parties, who saw it as a "sign of the government's willingness to open up". The consultation, which was only attended by politicians from Grand Comoros and Moheli, preceded the 24 May national address by Col.Azali Assoumani, the first of its kind since his coming to power in the coup d'etat of 30 April. However, the former minister, Mouzaoir Abdallah, who represented the National Rally for Development (RND) of the late President Taki, deceased, said the meeting was contrary to the agreement reached at the end of the Antanarivo inter-island conference of 19 March to 3 April. "For us, the Antananarivo Agreement has not been respected", he told a news conference shortly after coming out of the parliamentary hall where the meeting was held. According to the former minister, it was abnormal to set up commissions in the absence of representatives from Anjouan and the Organisation of African Unity, which has worked tirelessly to solve the crisis generated by the secession of Anjouan island. (PANA, Senegal, 23 May 1999) * Congo (RDC). Disparition de deux missionnaires - Deux pretres ont disparu de la paroisse de Baraka, du diocese d'Uvira (Sud- Kivu), selon des sources ecclesiastiques. On est sans nouvelles des PP Mazzochin Piero et Elia Leita depuis le 10 mai. A cette date, la paroisse situee sur les rives du lac Tanganyika a ete conquise par les forces loyalistes, mais reprise peu apres, probablement le 18 mai, par les troupes rebelles. On suppose que les deux religieux ont ete entraines de force par les soldats congolais. (Misna, Italie, 24 mai 1999) * Congo (RDC). Scission consommee au RCD - La tentative de renversement, le 17 mai, du president du Rassemblement des Congolais pour la democratie (RCD), Wamba dia Wamba, par une partie de ses fondateurs provoque une scission du mouvement rebelle. Le 19 mai a Goma, controle par les Rwandais, les "putschistes" ont nomme le Dr Ilunga president du mouvement, alors que le commandant Jean- Pierre Ondekane a ete nomme vice-president. Le 20 mai, 75 des 147 membres de l'assemblee du RCD se sont dissocies des activites de ces "conspirateurs"; ils ont reaffirme leur appui au president Wamba et annonce le transfert de l'assemblee a Kisangani, territoire controle par les Ougandais. La scission est consommee. Par ailleurs, l'Ouganda, prenant ses distances avec le groupe de Goma, a retire son materiel militaire, dont des batteries antiaeriennes, des zones du Congo ou se trouve l'armee rwandaise. Alors que l'Ouganda a signe un accord de cessez-le-feu en Libye, le Rwanda refuse toujours de negocier avec le regime de Kabila, mais cet engagement lui coute de plus en plus cher. Le chef d'etat-major rwandais a reconnu que l'armee patriotique rwandaise avait eu au moins 500 morts et blesses depuis le debut de son engagement en RDC. D'autre part, a Kinshasa, les forces gouvernementales ont declare, le 20 mai, avoir realise une percee decisive, enfoncant les lignes rebelles dans le Nord-Katanga et le Sud-Kivu et reussissant a penetrer a Kalemie, Baraka, Kongolo et Kabambare. La situation sur les differents fronts n'est cependant pas claire. Toutefois, les deux camps ont signale durant le week-end du 22-23 mai des combats a l'est de Kabinda, qui defend Mbuji-Mayi, la capitale du diamant. Selon Kinshasa, les forces loyalistes, soutenues par leur aviation, auraient fait plus de 400 morts parmi les rebelles. Durant le meme week-end, M. Wamba a propose des negociations de paix avec M. Kabila "sans conditions prealables". A Kisangani, des accrochages entre les deux factions rivales du RCD ont fait quatre morts et dix blesses. D'autre part, le 24 mai, le chef d'etat-major des forces armees congolaises a menace le Burundi disant que la RDC se reservait le droit "d'attaquer Bujumbura" en raison "de l'implication directe de l'armee burundaise" aux cotes de la rebellion congolaise. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 mai 1999) * Congo (RDC). Rebels claim further victories - 19 May: The main rebel group, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), says it has scored fresh victories in the south and the east, despite internal problems within the movement. 23 May: rebels say they have captured 14 Zimbabwean soldiers in a battle near Eshimba. 25 May: Reports coming from Congo RDC indicate there is significant tension in Kisangani, due to violent internal clashes during the last few days. The clashes particularly involve, on the one side, the Banyamulemge and Rwandan components, and on the other, the Ugandan. However, Uganda's Foreign Minister denies there has been a shootout. Also, Faustin Munene, Congo's Chief of Defense Staff, threatens to attack Bujumbura in Burundi, and accuses the Burundian army of helping the rebels in Congo. 26 May: Chadian troops begin leaving Congo RDC. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 May 1999) * Cote d'Ivoire. Too many foreigners - The authorities are worried about what they describe as the high foreigner presence in the country. "The tolerance threshold has been surpassed, calling for urgent measures to prevent a major foreigner invasion," the Economic and Social Council said in a report titled: "Immigration in Cote d'Ivoire". The Council, which has as its members, eminent personalities from diverse walks of life, is the government's think-tank on socio-economic issues. According to the report, described as "top secret" but which was leaked to the local press, the foreigner presence has maintained an alarming proportion since the first general population census in 1965. "From 17.5% of the total population in 1965, it went up to 22% in 1975, 28% in 1968 and stabilised at 26% in 1993", it said. "It is no doubt that the 1998 census has revealed a more defiant and breathtaking figure concerning the progress of immigration in our country". The report pointed out that "in other West African countries, the rate of immigration is not more than 2%. It is 1.8% in Senegal, 1.2% in Niger, 0.9% in Mauritania, 0.7% in Mali and Burkina Faso and 0.3% in Guinea Conakry". The report said: "These figures without commentary, demonstrates the importance of immigration in our country, which is transforming even the population structure". It also revealed that "the Ivorian population, which was characterised by a surplus of women at a ratio of 97 men to 100 women in 1988, has today changed from 105 men to 100 women, thanks to immigration, with the ratio being 126 men to 100 women among the immigrant population". The report said 52% of the immigrants are from Burkina Faso, 23% from Mali, 7% from Guinea and 6% from Ghana. When put together, they represent 48% of the active population in Cote d'Ivoire. "12% of our population is also made up of immigrants from countries without boarders with us". (PANA, Senegal, 20 May 1999) * Eritrea-Ethiopia. Counter-offensive - 24 May: Ethiopia says it has killed more than 400 Eritrean troops in a two-day counter offensive on the western border.An Ethiopian spokesperson said four Eritrean brigades attacked Ethiopian positions on the western front close to the Mereb River but were repulsed. Ethiopian warplane took part in the action, causing "heavy losses to the Eritreans" and troops on the ground captured "heavy and light armament", the statement said. The same day, Eritrea celebrated eight years of independence from Ethiopia. (ANB-BIA), Brussels, 25 May 1999) * Erythree/Ethiopie. Nouvelles attaques - Le lundi 24 mai, l'Ethiopie et l'Erythree se sont rejete la responsabilite des attaques lancees le week-end precedent aux abords de la riviere Mereb et au cours desquelles des centaines d'hommes auraient ete tues ou blesses de part et d'autre. L'Ethiopie affirme avoir fait plus de 400 morts et 1.500 blesses dans les rangs de l'Erythree; celle-ci dit avoir tue 380 Ethiopiens et en avoir blesse pres d'un millier en trois jours de combats. -D'autre part, les services ethiopiens annoncent avoir elimine plus de 30.000 mines antipersonnel et plus de 500 mines antiblindes au cours des six dernieres semaines sur un surface d'environ 100 kmý. (IRIN, Nairobi, 26 mai 1999) * France. Reprise de l'instruction contre un pretre rwandais - La chambre d'accusation de la cour d'appel de Paris a officiellement rouvert la procedure judiciaire contre l'abbe Wenceslas Munyeshaka, pretre rwandais accuse de torture et de participation au genocide. Ce dernier a toujours clame son innocence. Pretre de la paroisse de la Sainte Famille a Kigali, l'abbe Wenceslas a fui le Rwanda en 1994 face a l'arrivee des troupes du Front patriotique rwandais. Refugie en France, le pretre a fait l'objet en 1995 d'une denonciation suivie d'une mise en examen sous l'accusation de complicite de genocide. Le jugement sur le fonds n'a cependant pas eu lieu. Apres que la cour d'appel de Nimes se soit declaree incompetente, la Cour de cassation a decide en janvier 1998 de la reprise de l'instruction confiee a la cour d'appel de Paris. L'abbe Munyeshaka est aujourd'hui vicaire dans l'Eure. Dans cette affaire, c'est temoignage contre temoignage, commente l'avocat du pretre. Selon la defense, les temoignages favorables au pretre sont difficiles a recueillir du fait des pressions ou menaces exercees au Rwanda. (CIP, Bruxelles, 26 mai 1999 * Ghana. Expensive cost of gold mine strike - Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited said on 19 May that the strike at its Obuasi mine, its biggest in the Ashanti Group, is costing the company 2,500 ounces of gold a day in lost production. "We are losing 2,500 ounces of gold for every day that the stoppage continues at Obuasi", Trevor Schultz, the company's chief operating officer said. Ashanti produces 850,000 ounces of gold per annum. In a statement, the company said the strike is "extremely unfortunate" as the mine was already having a particularly tight quarter due to the lack of flexibility in the surface mining operations. Since the premature closure of the Sansu pit five months ago, we have been pushing tonnage hard from Anyinam and Gyabunsu pits and from underground", it said. "We are no longer producing ore from the high-grade ETS pillar underground and we do not have the flexibility to make up for unexpected interruption to other gold mines in the Ashanti Group which are performing at or above targets in the current quarter and have not been affected by the Obuasi mine". Giving its version of the strike which started on 14 May, the company said the strike came after the conclusion of an agreement on 11 May between it and the Ghana Mine Workers' Union concerning pay and benefits. On 24 May, the striking miners agreed to resume work immediately. According to a Memorandum of Understanding they signed today, the management and the union will meet to re-negotiate within 72 hours of resumption of duty. (PANA, Senegal, 19 May & 25 May 1999) * Ghana. New Bui Dam -- a disaster in the making - A proposed 400 megawatts dam to be built on the Black Volta River in the Brong Ahafo region, has been condemned for the environmental disaster it would unleash against the river and the nation's last tract of pristine forests, savannah, wildlife, and the local inhabitants of the area. Also endangered is a population of 150 Hippopotamus amphibus, the larger of two populations of black hippos left in Ghana. Studies of the site have shown that the hippos would be wiped out when the dam is built and the area flooded with impounded water. Leading the campaign against the construction of the dam, Ghana's award winning journalist, Mr Mike Anane, said that the dam would also flood a greater part of the 1,8000 sq.km. Bui National Park. Anane described the park as "a protected area of Guinea Savanah which is home to a stunning collection of many globally endangered amphibians, butterfles, birds, lions and various primates". (Change Radio, Nigeria, May 1999) * Guinee-Bissau. Le gouvernement veut juger Vieira - Le 20 mai, le gouvernement soutenu par les rebelles a decide de juger pour trahison le president dechu Joao Bernardo Vieira, depose par les armes le 7 mai. M. Vieira s'est refugie a l'ambassade du Portugal a Bissau. L'ancienne puissance coloniale a indique qu'elle ne le livrerait pas aux nouveaux dirigeants. (Le Monde, France, 22 mai 1999) * Guinea-Bissau. "Nino" to face trial - 21 May: The former president, Joao Bernardo Vieira, known as "Nino", is to be put on trial for treason. Since the overthrow of the government two weeks ago, he has been given refuge in the Portuguese embassy in Bissau. An official of the new government said the embassy would eventually have to hand over Mr Vieira, and then he would need a very good lawyer. 26 May: The transitional government says that the ousted President should not leave the country, and has set up a team of envoys to travel abroad and explain why he should stand trial. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 May 1999) * Liberia. Les eveques s'inquietent - Les eveques catholiques du Liberia ont appele leur gouvernement a elaborer une politique etrangere "clairement definie" face a l'isolement progressif du pays vis-a-vis du monde exterieur, a rapporte l'agence PANA le 24 mai. Les eveques ont declare qu'il etait necessaire de "lutter sans reserve et honnetement contre l'indiscipline morale, sociale, economique et politique qui se repand dans la societe". "Distribution inegale des ressources naturelles, politiques economiques peu judicieuses, nombre croissant de violations des droits de l'homme et syndrome de dependance... sont les facteurs saillants qui freinent le progres et la prosperite de la nation", ont declare les eveques. (IRIN, Abidjan, 25 mai 1999) * Libya. Air Malta to receive $5 million - 20 May: Libya has authorised the payment of $5 million to Air Malta in part settlement of $13 million owed to the Maltese state-owned airline. The Times of Malta said the lump sum payment of $5 million, was authorised by the governor of the Libyan Central Bank. The debts to Air Malta were accumulated following the imposition of the UN sanctions against Libya. Many of those who wished to travel from Libya, came to Malta by ferry and left Malta by air. They booked and paid for their flight tickets in Libya, where the transfer of funds to Malta had been blocked. (Reuters, 20 May 1999) * Malawi. Elections to be held by 15 June - 21 May: The day-long extraordinary session of Parliament in Lilongwe authorises the Electoral Commission to hold the now-rescheduled general elections by 15 June. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 22 May 1999) * Nigeria. Nouvelle Constitution - La nouvelle Constitution, promulguee au debut du mois et rendue publique le 17 mai, instaure un regime presidentiel fort, tout en dotant le Parlement de larges prerogatives legislatives. Cette quatrieme Constitution depuis l'independance du pays en 1960 a ete concue par le regime militaire sortant. Le texte constitutionnel prevoit aussi une meilleure repartition des richesses petrolieres du pays en retrocedant 13% (au lieu de 3% actuellement) des revenus issus du petrole aux populations des regions petroliferes du sud du Nigeria, repondant ainsi a une revendication essentielle de ces populations. (Le Monde, France, 20 mai 1999) * Nigeria. Affrontements communautaires - Plus de 30 personnes seraient mortes et d'autres grievement blessees au cours d'affrontements survenus durant le week-end du 22-23 mai dans la ville de Kafanchan, Etat de Kaduna, au nord du pays. Le conflit entre membres de l'ethnie haoussa et les populations du sud du Kaduna a eclate a propos de l'installation officielle du nouvel emir de Jemaa, que les representants locaux ont rejetee, estimant que le systeme d'emirat est une tradition haoussa etrangere a leur culture. Plusieurs maisons ont ete incendiees et des manifestants ont allume de grands feux pour empecher l'entourage du nouvel emir d'entrer dans la ville. (IRIN, Abidjan, 24 mai 1999) * Nigeria. Return to civilian rule - 21 May: President-elect Olusegun Obasanjo, calls on all Nigerians to join him in three days of prayer and fasting for divine intervention to ensure a successful handover of power. 24 May: An IMF representative is to hold talks with the outgoing military government, after reports of a last-minute spending spree which is seen as threatening the country's fragile economy. 25 May: Already Obasanjo's People's Democratic Party has divided into noisy factions among National Assembly members -- promising to make life impossible for the President if their interests are not served. Aides say he has been deluged with CVs, while his every move is accompanied by frenzied lobbyists competing for his time. Also, the outgoing military government is having to defend its record against mounting allegations of corruption and economic mismanagement. 26 May: The military government holds its final cabinet meeting in preparation for the handover on 29 May. General Abubakar congratulates the ministers and says they have done their best to bring sanity back to society. The country's highest decision making body, the Provisional Ruling Council, is also due to meet for the last time. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 May 1999) * Rwanda. EU releases $50 million grant - The European Union has released a $50 million grant to Rwanda suspended for six months after the country sent troops to support rebels fighting in the Congo RDC. "This has been a very long decision-making process because of the situation in the region", said the EU's representative in Rwanda, Glauco Calzuola. "But I think the signing of this agreement is a sign that the European Union is supporting your country in the difficult process of structural adjustment", he said after the agreement was signed late on 18 May. Finance Minister Donald Kaberuka said Rwanda needed the funds to continue economic reforms and reduce a budget deficit. Soon after the rebellion began in eastern Congo last August, the EU threatened to suspend all assistance to the countries involved in the war. (Reuters, 19 May 1999) * Rwanda. Deux condamnations au TPIR - Le 21 mai, l'ancien prefet rwandais de Kibuye, Clement Kayishema, a ete condamne a la prison a vie pour genocide par le Tribunal penal international pour le Rwanda a Arusha. Le TPIR a aussi condamne a 25 ans de prison l'homme d'affaires Obed Ruzindana. Ce jugement est le quatrieme rendu par le TPIR en quatre annees d'existence. (Agence Hirondelle, Arusha, 21 mai 1999) * Rwanda. Le role de l'Onu dans le genocide - Le 25 mai, l'Onu a annonce la creation d'une commission d'enquete independante (annoncee par M. Annan en mars dernier) sur le role que l'organisation a elle-meme joue pendant le genocide rwandais en 1994. Cette commission, qui devra rendre ses travaux dans six mois, sera presidee par l'ancien Premier ministre suedois Ingvar Carlsson et comprendra egalement l'ancien ministre sud-coreen des Affaires etrangeres Han Sung-joo et le general nigerian Rufus Modupe Kupolati. - D'autre part, le Rwanda s'est dote d'une commission nationale des droits de l'homme, qui sera presidee par Gasana Ndoba qui a le rang de ministre. La mise en place de cette commission repond a un engagement pris par les autorites rwandaises apres qu'elles eurent expulse en juillet 1998 la mission au Rwanda du Haut-commissariat aux droits de l'homme des Nations unies. (ANB- BIA, de sources diverses, 27 mai 1999) * Sierra Leone. Ceasefire - 20 May: There's been heavy fighting in Sierra Leone around the eastern town of Kenema -- just days before the ceasefire agreement is due to go into effect. The same day, President Kabbah says the suggestion by the rebel RUF for a four-year transitional government, is untenable since the country's citizens regard their Constitution as the best guarantee of their freedoms and rights. 24 May: The ceasefire starts. President Kabbah warns that neither he nor ECOMOG will turn a blind eye to any breach that endangers life or property. The same day, there are accusations of truce violations by both sides. 25 May: Direct talks begin in Lome, Togo, between the Sierra Leonean government and the RUF under the auspices of ECOWAS. MISNA says that Bishop Giorgio Biguzzi of Makeni, a member of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, opened the peace talks with a prayer. He said: "As religious leaders, we were asked to take on a role as "mediators", to encourage the sides involved, to reach an accord. 26 May: Procedural issues hold up the face-to-face talks. A meeting between the negotiating teams and a special West African ministerial committee, which will define ground rules for the talks, has yet to take place. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 May 1999) * Sahara occidental. La position de l'Algerie - Selon une depeche du 20 mai, le nouveau president algerien, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, aurait declare dans une lettre adressee au chef du Polisario son "soutien indefectible" a "l'independance totale" du Sahara occidental. Cette prise de position aurait marque un revirement du nouveau chef d'Etat qui avait envoye, peu de temps apres son arrivee au pouvoir, des messages conciliants aux autorites marocaines. "Il n'est pas de problemes entre nous qui ne puissent etre regles", avait notamment declare M. Bouteflika. Le 23 mai cependant, l'agence Reuters indiquait que cette nouvelle etait erronee, l'agence officielle Algerie Presse Service ayant mal interprete les propos du president algerien. En fait, M. Bouteflika a affirme son soutien a un processus de paix de l'Onu pour decider "en toute independance et transparence" de l'avenir du Sahara occidental. "Je tiens a reiterer la position constante de mon pays et son soutien indefectible a la juste cause du peuple sahraoui frere dans sa lutte et son combat pour son autodetermination, en toute independance et transparence, conformement aux resolutions des Nations unies et des accords de Houston", a ecrit M. Bouteflika. -D'autre part, le 21 mai, l'ancien diplomate americain William Eagleton a ete nomme representant special des Nations unies au Sahara occidental. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 24 mai 1999) * Sierra Leone. Difficiles pourparlers de paix - Le cessez-le-feu en Sierra Leone est entre en vigueur le 24 mai, mais quelques heures a peine apres son entree en vigueur, le RUF et l'Ecomog se sont deja accuses de l'avoir viole. Les habitants demeurent fort sceptiques quant a la possibilite d'un accord entre le gouvernement et le RUF. - Le 25 mai, les pourparlers entre ces deux parties ont debute a Lome par une grande ceremonie. Mais des diplomates sur place notent que les positions des deux camps sont tres eloignees. Les ministres des Affaires etrangeres de la CEDEAO, reunis egalement a Lome, devraient peser sur les pourparlers pour qu'ils aboutissent a un accord de paix. -Le 26 mai, le cessez-le-feu semblait etre respecte; des scenes de fraternisation ont meme ete observees non loin de la capitale. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 mai 1999) * Somalia. Women leader calls for peace - On 19 May, a Somali women leader, Amina Sharif Hassan, sent a strong appeal to warring factions in her country to stop the violence, step back and see the victory that Somalia women bring to facilitate reconstruction. Hassan, a representative of a Somalia-based NGO, the Voice of Somali Women for Peace, Reconciliation and Political Rights, said that Somali women have endured atrocities like rape, torture as well as witnessed their loved ones slaughtered in front of them. "Many live outside the country as refugees, yet they should be in the country to devote their energise in the country's reconstruction after almost eight years without a central government", she said. Hassan earlier delivered a presentation on the role of women in Conflict Prevention, Resolution and Peace Building in Africa, at the ongoing UNESCO conference on Women and the Culture of Peace in Zanzibar. She spoke about the efforts deployed by her organization to achieve stability in a country rocked by a bloody clan-war since the overthrow of the Siad Barre regime some eight years ago. (PANA, Senegal, 19 May 1999) * Somalia. Australia stops immigration - An attempt to illegally ship some 2,000 people to Australia from Somalia has been thwarted, the Australian government said. Up to 2,000 people has paid $2,300 each to board a ship from Somalia to Australia, said a spokesman for the Federal Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Minister, Philip Ruddock. The attempt fell apart after Australian authorities in the east African country warned the hopeful travellers they would be turned back if they arrived in Australia. The spokesman said the ship had been moved from the port near the Somali capital Mogadishu, but it was believed it had not departed for Australia. "The Minister prepared a statement alerting these people to the fact that they weren't going to gain access to Australia, this was not a sanctioned voyage and it was mostly likely they were being ripped off", the spokesman said. "This led to a large scale demonstration where the vessel was docked in Somalia, in which about 1,000 people apparently demanded their money back and it is alleged that shots were even fired". The government said last week that the number of people trying to enter Australia illegally by boat had more than doubled since last year. "The number of illegals coming to Australia by boat has increased by 120% from 200 in the entire calendar year to 440 so far this calendar year", Ruddock said. (CNN, 23 May 1999) * Somalie. Combats - Le 25 mai, des combats ont oppose des forces du chef de guerre Hussein Aidid a celles de l'Armee de resistance Rahanwein pour le controle de la ville somalienne de Baidoa, a 250 km de Mogadiscio. Ces affrontements auraient fait au moins 26 morts et 53 blesses. (Liberation, France, 27 mai 1999) * South Africa. Cult of violence - 19 May: South Africa's police watchdog recommends that 22, mainly white, police officers be charged with assault, after a BBC documentary caught them severely beating criminal suspects. The brutality of the attack has caused a storm in the crime-ravaged country still grappling with the racial hangover of apartheid. The statutory Independent Complaints Directorate recommends that the 22 officers, 19 of whom are white males, be tried by the director of public prosecutions on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. 21 May: A principal and a teacher open fire at stone-throwing high school students, angered over field-trip fees. One student is killed and two injured. The incident took place at a high school near Durban. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 21 May 1999) * South Africa. Mandela -- allegations of oil deal - An extraordinary story involving Nelson Mandela, a businessman who doubles as a UN diplomat, and two cheques totalling almost œ170,000, remained shrouded in mystery last night, as the President's lawyers dismissed allegations he had accepted a kickback for fixing an oil deal. Mr Mandela's aides insisted that the cheques, sent to his personal lawyer by the UN diplomat, were unsolicited contributions to the President's highly regarded childrens' fund. They claim the controversy is nothing but a smear campaign designed to sully Mr Mandela's reputation before the South African elections. (The Guardian, UK, 22 May 1999) * Afrique du Sud. Amnistie pour les crimes de l'apartheid? - Le 23 mai, a dix jours des elections qui devraient faire de lui le prochain president sud-africain, Thabo Mbeki a relance l'idee d'une amnistie collective pour les individus qui n'ont pas sollicite le pardon a l'occasion des travaux de la commission Verite et reconciliation. Dans un entretien publie par le Sunday Times, M. Mbeki affirme avoir demande au ministre de la Justice de reviser la loi afin de faire beneficier d'une amnistie d'anciens militaires et militants politiques. Une telle amnistie irait a l'encontre des positions exprimees par le president Mandela. La proposition de M. Mbeki semble destinee a apaiser les tensions dans le KwaZulu-Natal, ou une importante cache d'armes, utilisee par l'Inkatha durant l'apartheid, a recemment ete decouverte. L'ANC et l'Inkatha essaient de faire tenir leur accord de paix civile. (D'apres AP, 24 mai 1999) * Afrique du Sud. Vers les elections - Selon un sondage publie le 24 mai, a neuf jours du scrutin, le Congres national africain (ANC) devrait remporter une victoire ecrasante aux elections generales du 2 juin, avec pres de 65% des voix. Selon ce dernier sondage, le Parti democratique obtiendrait 7% des voix, le Nouveau parti national 6% (contre 20,35% en 1994), l'Inkhata 3% (10,5% en 1994) et le Mouvement democratique uni 2%. Les autres partis mettent en garde contre une trop grande victoire de l'ANC qui, s'il obtient les deux-tiers des sieges, pourrait modifier la Constitution a son gre. En effet, la Constitution peut etre amendee avec une majorite des deux-tiers, plus l'accord de six des neuf provinces. L'opposition crie au risque de derive autoritaire d'un pays a parti "quasi-unique". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 mai 1999) * South Africa. Lead-up to Election Day - 21 May: With Election Day approaching (2 June), an investigation is under way at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). There are allegations that editorial independence is being eroded -- in favour of bias towards the ruling ANC. 25 May: All the major parties have a Web presence. The Web has quickly become a vital tool for sharing the ideas which have proliferated at a time of profound social change -- and in a climate of free speech that was barely imaginable a decade ago. 26 May: Early voting has started in South Africa for the security forces, electoral officials, and other government officials who will be working on election day. Likewise, among South Africans living in Australia and India. The government holds its last working Cabinet meeting ahead of the elections. The meeting is chaired by Deputy-President Thabo Mbeki. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 May 1999) * Soudan. Humanitaires attaques - Le 18 mai au matin, des barges remontant de Juba ou elles avaient livre des vivres, ont ete attaquees par des elements non identifies pres de la ville d'Adok. Le co-pilote d'une barge a ete tue et deux employes du PAM ont ete blesses. Le secretaire general adjoint de l'Onu pour les affaires humanitaires, de Mello, a fait part de sa "profonde indignation". En attendant les conclusions d'un examen de la situation, le PAM a suspendu ses convois. Le 20 mai, les deux employes humanitaires etaient hospitalises a Khartoum. D'autre part, le 17 mai, M. Kofi Annan a fait part de l'inquietude que lui inspiraient les affrontements entre troupes regulieres et rebelles dans le sud du Soudan. La veille, des villages de la province du Bahr el-Ghazal avaient ete bombardes. M. Annan a appele les deux parties a respecter integralement la treve conclue en avril et a faire en sorte que l'assistance humanitaire puisse continuer a parvenir sans encombre aux populations de cette region. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 21 mai 1999) * Soudan. Nimeiri rentre au pays - Le 22 mai, apres 14 ans d'exil, l'ancien president Jaafar El-Nimeiri est arrive a Khartoum, ou il a ete accueilli par le ministre des Affaires etrangeres. Il a rencontre ensuite le president El-Bechir, qui a espere que son retour "appuierait le processus de construction et de developpement". M. Nimeiri est le premier leader de l'opposition a accepter l'invitation du president El-Bechir de rentrer au pays. La coalition d'opposition National Democratic Alliance a declare qu'elle poursuivrait ses demarches pour faire passer M. Nimeiri en jugement pour "massacres et assassinats", mais celui-ci beneficie d'une amnistie presidentielle qui le met a l'abri de toute poursuite. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 25 mai 1999) * Sudan. Nimeiri returns - 22 May: Sudan's former military ruler, Jaafar Nimeiri, has returned to his homeland after 14 years in exile, and pledges to work for peace and democracy. "The government has given political pluralism a chance by passing the Political Association Law", he said in a statement to state television. "This has encouraged me as it shows the government is serious about handing over power to the people". 25 May: It is made known that the government had told Nimeiri before he returned home, that he had been granted amnesty from prosecution. 26 May: Nimeiri announces the formation of a new political party, the People's Working Forces Alliance. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 May 1999) * Togo. Representant d'AI refoule - Le 21 mai, le secretaire general d'Amnesty International, Pierre Sane, a ete refoule vers le Ghana par les autorites togolaises, qui estiment que "la presence de M. Sane au Togo est inopportune en ce moment". Le gouvernement togolais veut porter plainte contre l'organisation apres la publication d'un rapport sur le "regne de la terreur au Togo", ou Amnesty affirme que des centaines de personnes ont ete tuees a la suite du scrutin presidentiel de juin 1998. Depuis la publication du rapport, le 5 mai, les autorites togolaises ont rejete en bloc toutes les accusations. En attendant le proces contre AI, le gouvernement a d'ores et deja emprisonne deux opposants ainsi qu'un membre de la section locale de l'organisation, accuses d'etre des "faussaires des droits de l'homme". Le 22 mai, quelque 3.000 manifestants des partis d'opposition ont manifeste a Lome, demandant l'ouverture d'une enquete internationale sur le rapport d'AI et la liberation des trois militants des droits de l'homme. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 22 mai 1999) * Togo. Opposition call for probe - 22 May: Some 3,000 opposition supporters demonstrate in Lome, to demand an international investigation into an Amnesty International report that hundreds of people were killed in political unrest last year. The same day, President Eyadema appoints Eugen Koffi Adoboli to replace Kwassi Klutse as prime minister. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 May 1999) * Togo. The ECOWAS talks - 25 May: A dispute has broken out among West African Foreign Ministers over whether to recognise the new military government in Niger. Ministers failed to adopt a resolution calling for the new government to be isolated until democratic elections are held. Mali, Sierra Leone and Benin argued that the new government should be ostracized, but Niger's Foreign Minister, Aishatou Mindaoudou, backed by Burkina Faso, opposed the resolution. The ECOWAS ministers agreed, however, that there should be an independent investigation into the assassination. Also, Direct talks have begun in Lome between the Sierra Leone government and the RUF, under the auspices of ECOWAS. The ministers welcome the ceasefire in Sierra Leone. (ANB-BIA Brussels, 26 May 1999) * Tunisie. Harcelements denonces - Le 20 mai, le journaliste Taoufik Ben Brik, correspondant du quotidien La Croix, a du etre hospitalise brievement apres avoir ete agresse. Vers midi, en pleine rue, trois hommes l'ont frappe sauvagement avec des chaines de velo et des batons. Opposant au regime, M. Ben Brik avait ete dernierement critique par l'agence de communication officielle. Le 24 mai au matin, il a ete arrete, puis libere au debut de l'apres- midi. Les policiers ont tente vainement de lui faire signer une deposition indiquant qu'il avait ete agresse par des "inconnus" au lieu de policiers en civil comme il le dit. M. Ben Brik, dont le tort est de denoncer la derive policiere des autorites, est presque quotidiennement l'objet d'intimidations et d'agressions. - D'autre part, le 22 mai, Tahar Chaieb, un ancien membre du bureau executif de la centrale syndicale UGTT, a ete arrete a l'aeroport de Tunis, a son retour de Paris. M. Chaieb etait un des onze signataires de la petition nationale lancee debut mai pour faire invalider le dernier congres de l'UGTT en raison des "abus commis". Les autres signataires ont tous fait l'objet d'une breve arrestation. M. Chaieb a ete relache le 24 mai. - Le 26 mai, huit organisations humanitaires, parmi lesquelles Amnesty International et la FIDH, ont denonce ensemble la derive autoritaire du regime de Ben Ali. Elles s'elevent contre le harcelement accru envers des avocats, journalistes, syndicalistes et militants des droits de l'homme et demandent aux autorites d'y "mettre fin immediatement". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 mai 1999) * Uganda. Bank unveils plan - The Central Bank of Uganda has introduced intervention measures in the on-going reform of the financial sector. The move follows the recent problems in the financial sector arising from poor performance of several banks. The bank said in a statement that some of the measures taken include the placing of the Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB)'s non- performing loans portfolio under a specially created Non-Performing Asset Recovery Trust (NPART). This will provide the UCB with foreign technical assistance to improve bonds and evaluation the consequences of its Privatisation. Among the reforms in the banking sector are the enforcement of new minimum capital requirements for banks. The reforms also include strengthening of the Central Bank's supervision department and the creation of a deposits insurance scheme to protect depositions. Also, on 20 May, the Bank of Uganda said it had closed down the Cooperative Bank, one of the country's largest, and will liquidate it. This is because the Cooperative Bank is insolvent. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 May 1999) * Uganda. From "The East African" - 17-23 May: During his tour of northern Uganda, President Museveni has agreed to extend an amnesty to rebel leader Joseph Kony. / Political parties could soon be free to operate in Uganda if drastic changes to a Bill regulating their activities, are passed by parliament. / The same newspaper publishes a major analysis: "Uganda's dizzy fall from grace was inevitable" -- A reversal of fortunes seems to be underway in Uganda. / The Fourth Division Commander in Gulu, Bradier Wamala Katumba, has offered to resign if his soldiers are proved to have tortured a woman depicted in a picture published by The Monitor. (The East African Kenya, 17-23 May 1999) * Uganda. Coffee & cotton -- chief foreign exchange earner - Gone are the days when during the 1970s and 1980s, Uganda relied on a handful of export crops to earn foreign exchange. However, coffee, cotton, tobacco and tea, the traditional cash crops, continue to assume a significant place in income generation, to earn Uganda millions of dollars in the post liberalisation and export diversification era. Coffee is still Uganda's chief foreign exchange earner although the dependence on coffee exports has diminished from over 90% in 1987 to US $674 million in 1997. Non- traditional exports now make up about 37% of the total export receipts. In additional to the traditional coffee, emphasis is also being put on the newly developed clonal coffee. Cotton is another traditional export that continues to vitally contribute to the Ugandan economy. Production is anticipated to rise in the 1998/1999 season to 150,000 bales. The resurgence of cotton production from 11,000 bales in 1988, is attributed to the introduction of the superior BPA 85 variety, and the role the Cotton Development Organisation is playing in the cotton sub-sector. (Peter Bahemuka, Uganda, 22 May 1999) * Ouganda. Contacts discrets avec la LRA - Le 24 mai, le journal East African de Nairobi rapportait que la communaute italienne Sant'Egidio avait transmis a Joseph Kony, dirigeant de l'Armee de la resistance du Seigneur (LRA), l'offre d'amnistie presentee le 13 mai par le president Museveni. Selon une source anonyme, l'organisation catholique aurait fait comprendre au gouvernement ougandais qu'il convenait de negocier la paix avec la LRA et le gouvernement soudanais, son allie presume. Un certain nombre de hauts fonctionnaires et de responsables de la securite auraient pris des premiers et discrets contacts avec des representants de M. Kony. (IRIN, Nairobi, 26 mai 1999) * Zambia. Importing crude oil - Government has taken steps to import crude oil to pre-empt any shortages arising from the Indeni Petroleum Refinery fire. Depending on the source of the oil, fuel price changes may be anticipated. Energy and Water Resources Minister Ben Mwila briefing the Press after inspecting the damaged unit said price changes would depend on the source on the fuel. "Naturally the price of fuel will be affected by this but much will depend on the source", Mr.Mwila said in response to a query on the likelihood of another fuel increase. Government would take contingency measures such as importing fuel to ensure supplies were not affected after the inferno destroyed the primary distillation unit, the key link in the extraction of various petroleum products from crude oil. (Times of Zambia, 19 May 1999) * Zambia. Policing -- "Sometimes fatal, seldom fair" - In a new report, Amnesty International says that the country's police force is influenced by political meddling, to the extent where paramilitary police use teargas and batons to break up peaceful public gatherings; where journalists are arrested for reporting the news to the nation; and where politicians are detained on political charges. Police officers can also shoot and kill with impunity. The report also states that the Zambian authorities are failing to take police officers to court for killing and torturing people. (Amnesty International, 25 May 1999) * Zimbabwe. Funding farms scheme - Foreign donors have signed an agreement to fund technical support worth nearly one million dollars for Zimbabwe's controversial scheme to resettle poor black farmers on white-owned land. It's intended that the money will be used to help draw up rules and guidelines on nationalising around one-hundred and twenty farms over an initial two-year period without disrupting agricultural production. The United States ambassador in Harare, Tom McDonald, said the funds were committed after the government promised open dialogue and transparent procedures on farm confiscations. Although the sum is only a fraction of what the reforms will cost, the agreement is significant in that it shows the government has been able to ally donor fears over the resettlement programme. (BBC News, 19 May 1999) * Zimbabwe. Les donateurs appuient la reforme fonciere - Le 19 mai, les bailleurs de fonds internationaux ont signe un accord sur le financment d'un fonds de soutien technique a la "phase initiale" du programme de reforme fonciere et de reinstallation du Zimbabwe. Etats-Unis, Suede, Norvege et Pays-Bas ont fourni 920.000 dollars par le truchement du PNUD afin d'aider a mettre au point le detail de la premiere phase du schema foncier, qui prevoit de retablir en deux ans 77.000 familles rurales sur une superficie totale d'un million d'hectares. Quelque 4.500 exploitants, majoritairement blancs, detiennent 11 millions d'hectares de bonnes terres, alors que des millions de familles rurales noires subsistent a peine sur des terres communales infertiles. Les domaines concernes par la phase initiale incluent 120 exploitations d'une surface totale de 223.110 hectares, offerts a la vente l'an dernier. Les pouvoirs publics s'en tiennent toujours a leur objectif ultime d'acquerir 5 millions d'hectares pour la reinstallation. (IRIN, Afrique australe, 20 mai 1999) * Zimbabwe. Women are "junior males" - Disbelief and anger are sweeping through Zimbabwe's human rights groups after a court decision diminished the rights of the majority of the country's women, declaring them to be "junior males". "Zimbabwe has chose to regress into the dark ages as far as women's rights are concerned", said Amy Shups Tsanga, a lecturer in law at the University of Zimbabwe. The supreme court ruled in March that Veneria Magaya, the designated heir to her father's estate, did not have the right to inherit the property because of her gender. The property was awarded to her younger brother. Even more controversially, the judges went on to reinterpret the legal age of majority act of 1980, the cornerstone of equal rights for Zimbabwean women. The panel of five said the law was not intended to grant women complete equality. "The woman's status is basically the same as that of any junior male in the family", the judges said. In other words, women's rights are inferior to men's on issues such as inheritance, ownership of property and custody of children. (The Guardian, U.K., 20 May 1999)